Can-opener.



S. T. ALLEN.

GAN OPENER.

APPLICATION PILLD 1120.23, 1907.

Patented 006. 20, 1908.

SHERMAN T. ALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed December 23, 1907. Serial N 0. 407,622.

To all whom it may concern:

knife point 6 is forced against the side Be it known that I, SHERMAN T. ALLEN, a slightly below the line of its union with the citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Can-Openers, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to can openers, and has for its object an improved device of the class mentioned, whereby simplicity and positiveness of operation, and efliciency of the work done, are combined with cheapness of production.

In the drawings :-Figure 1, is a plan view of the device. Fig. 2, is an elevation of a fragmentary portion of the toothed bar, and of the knife-carrying casing and its controlling ratchet wheel, the near side of the casing being cut away to show the engagement of the ratchet wheel with the teeth of the bar. Fig. 3, is a perspective of the knife and casing, which are formed of one piece. Fig. 4, 1s a vertical elevation, partly in section, of an opener, with both the point and knife portions inserted in the top of a can. Fig. 5, is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, along the line aa of Fi 4.

T indicates a toothed bar, one end of which is attached to handle 2, and the opposite end of which is bent so that its penetrating point 3 is substantially parallel therewith, but in another plane. Slidable therealong is the casing, which is stamped from a single sheet of metal, so that its barengaging sides 4* and its knife points 5 and 6 are integral the one with the other. Its position along the toothed bar is regulated by the pinion 7, whose peripheral teeth register with those on the bar, and which is adapted to be manipulated by the key 8. \Vhatever the position of the casing along the toothed bar, the pinion 7 is always in constant and operative engagement with the teeth on the bar.

The penetrating point 3 is first thrust into the central portion of the top of the can, whose opening is desired, and the entire device brought so that the bar portion 1 lies substantially parallel with the top. The casing 4 is then thrust forward, so that the top of the can. In this position, it is locked by the engagement of the dog 10 between the teeth of a ratchet wheel 9, which, like the pinion 7 is mounted on the stem or shaft of the key 8, but on the outside of the casing, whereas the wheel 7 lies between the sides 4 of the casing. The casing is of such a size that it is not only easily slidable along the bar, but may be rocked somewhat with respect to it, so that after the point of the knife 6 has been jammed against the tin and locked in position by the use of the dog 10, some slight play is possible, by means of which the tip of the knife point can be worked against the tin before the actual twisting strain about the point of penetration of the point 3 as a center is begun. The opener is then moved through a horizontal plane with the knife point 6 cutting the tin as it advances. Similarly, if it is desired to out only the top of the can and leave perhaps a slight inturned flange remaining after the central portion has been cut out, the same operation is gone through with, except that the casing is locked along the toothed bar in such position with respect to the center through which the point 3 is forced, that the downwardly extending point 5 is forced down upon the tin, so that its path of travel will be uniformly within the inclosing sides of the can.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a can opener, in combination with a toothed bar having a piercing point, a knife casing slidably engaging with its body portion thereabout, means journaled in said casing, and at all times intermeshing with the indentations on said bar, whereby the position of said casing with respect to the bar may be regulated, and whereby the knife may be forcibly projected against the tin wall of a can, and means for locking the casing in position thereon after its movement has ceased, substantially as described.

2. In a can opener, in combination with a toothed bar, a penetrating point thereon, though lying in another plane from its main portion, a casing provided with knife points extending at right angles to one another and slidable therealong, a pinion supported by said casing in position of constant engagement with the teeth of said bar whereby the knife may be projected against the tin wall of a can, and means whereby said pinion and thereby the casing may be locked in position with respect thereto, substantially as described.

3. In a can opener, in combination with a l0 actuated in either direction along the bar and the knife may be forcibly projected against the side of a can, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

SHERMAN T. ALLEN.

WVitnesses GRACE B. CLEMENTS, VILLIAM M. S\VAN. 

